About Diocese of Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (Latin: Dioecesis Carolopolitana) covers the entire state of South Carolina and is the seventh oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States, erected on July 11, 1820 by Pope Pius VII from territory taken from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Originally a vast 142,000-square-mile see stretching across the Carolinas and Georgia, it has been whittled by the creation of four daughter dioceses (Savannah, Atlanta, Raleigh and Charlotte) and today counts 95 parishes, 21 missions, 32 diocesan schools and an estimated Catholic population of roughly 230,000. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Atlanta within the Province of Atlanta, and is currently led by its 14th ordinary, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS — the first Black prelate and the first Scalabrinian to head the see — who was installed May 13, 2022.
- Bishop
- Jacques Fabre-Jeune, C.S.
- Established
- 1820
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401
- Territory
- The entire State of South Carolina (32,020 square miles), covering all 46 counties.
- Parishes
- 95 parishes and 21 missions
- Province
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Province of Atlanta), together with the dioceses of Charlotte, Raleigh and Savannah
Our History — From 1820 to Today
The Diocese of Charleston was canonically erected by Pope Pius VII on July 11, 1820, becoming the seventh oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States. Created from territory detached from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, it originally covered 142,000 square miles across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, served by only six priests and two churches. Its first shepherd, Bishop John England of Cork, Ireland, arrived in Charleston on December 30, 1820 and within two decades had grown the Catholic population to nearly 20,000 with seventeen churches and twenty priests. Four other dioceses — Savannah (1850), Raleigh (1944), Atlanta (1956) and Charlotte (1972) — have since been carved from the original territory, leaving today's Diocese of Charleston covering the entire 32,020-square-mile state of South Carolina.
The diocese marked its bicentennial on July 11, 2020 with a Vigil Mass in Columbia. Pope Francis named Father Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS — a Haitian-born Scalabrinian priest — as the 14th bishop on February 22, 2022, and he was installed on May 13, 2022.
- Erected July 11, 1820 by Pope Pius VII
- Originally covered SC, NC and GA — territory of 142,000 sq mi
- Four daughter dioceses: Savannah (1850), Raleigh (1944), Atlanta (1956), Charlotte (1972)
- 14th ordinary: Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS (installed May 13, 2022)
- Bicentennial celebrated July 11, 2020
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at 120 Broad Street in downtown Charleston. Bishop John England purchased the site in 1821 and blessed a temporary chapel there named for St. Finbar, patron of Cork, in December of that year. The cornerstone of the first cathedral was laid July 30, 1850; the resulting antebellum Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar, which seated 1,200 and cost $103,000, was consecrated on April 6, 1854 by Bishop Ignatius Reynolds — only to be destroyed in the great Charleston fire of December 11, 1861. Fundraising for a replacement dragged on for 45 years. The present Gothic Revival cathedral, designed by Brooklyn architect Patrick Keely and built of Connecticut tool-chiseled brownstone on the old foundation, had its cornerstone laid in January 1890 and was dedicated in 1907. A 31-rank French Romantic pipe organ (Bedient Opus 22) was acquired from the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, KY; the long-planned steeple and three French-cast bells were finally added under Bishop Robert Baker as part of the 'Forward with Faith' / 'Our Heritage, Our Hope' campaigns.
- Address: 120 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401
- Founded 1821; present building dedicated 1907
- Designed by Brooklyn architect Patrick Keely in Gothic Revival style
- Crypt holds remains of Bishop John England, his sister Joanna, and the first four Charleston bishops
- Sunday Masses: 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.; Vigil Mass Saturday 5:30 p.m.; weekday Mass Mon–Fri 12:05 p.m.
- Confessions Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 11:00–11:45 a.m.; Wed 12:30–1:00 p.m. & 6:00–6:30 p.m.; Sat 10:00–11:00 a.m. & 4:00–5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration 12:30–7:00 p.m.
- Rector: Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, VG
The Bishops of Charleston
Fourteen bishops have led the Diocese of Charleston in 200+ years. John England (1820–1842), an Irish priest from Cork, is considered the founder; he was followed by Ignatius A. Reynolds (1844–1855), who paid off the diocesan debt and consecrated the first cathedral, Patrick N. Lynch (1858–1882), a Confederate sympathizer who lost the cathedral to fire, and Henry P. Northrop (1883–1916), who oversaw the long campaign to rebuild. The 20th century saw rapid turnover: William T. Russell (1917–1927), Emmet M. Walsh (1927–1949), John J. Russell (1950–1958), Paul J. Hallinan (1958–1962) — who left to become Atlanta's first archbishop — Francis F. Reh (1962–1964), Ernest L. Unterkoefler (1964–1990, the longest serving after England), David B. Thompson (1990–1999), Robert J. Baker (1999–2007), Robert E. Guglielmone (2009–2022) and the current ordinary, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS (2022–present).
- First bishop: John England (1820–1842)
- Longest serving after England: Ernest L. Unterkoefler (1964–1990, 26 years)
- First Black and first Haitian-American bishop: Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS (2022)
- Three 20th-century bishops were translated to other sees: Walsh (Youngstown), Hallinan (Atlanta), Baker (Birmingham)
South Carolina Catholic Schools
The Office of Catholic Schools, under Superintendent Dr. Jason Slattery (as of recent rosters; followed by Colleen Donohoe), advises the diocesan bishop on all matters of Catholic education across the state. The diocese operates 32 diocesan schools including five diocesan high schools and two private Catholic high schools, supported by an accreditation and strategic planning team, faith formation coordinators, MAP and ARK testing coordinators, a nursing coordinator and a Director of Preschool Development and Academic Success. The mission of South Carolina Catholic Schools is to offer families of all backgrounds the richness of a quality Catholic education rooted in a dynamic encounter with Jesus Christ.
- 32 diocesan schools (including 5 diocesan high schools) plus 2 private Catholic high schools
- Dr. Jason Slattery, Superintendent of Catholic Schools (recent listing)
- Colleen Donohoe, Superintendent of Catholic Schools (also listed)
- Catholic Schools Office: [email protected] / 843-225-7657
- Faith Rummelsburg, Director of Preschool Development and Academic Success
Catholic Charities of South Carolina
Catholic Charities of South Carolina, headquartered at 901 Orange Grove Road in Charleston, is the social-services arm of the diocese. With regional offices in Charleston, Hardeeville, Gloverville, Greenville, Columbia, Conway and Georgetown, the agency ministers across the state through disaster services, immigration legal services, missionary outreach, restorative justice, port ministry and the San Pedro Medical Mission. It is led by Executive Director Rhett Young and provides parish-based social ministry support throughout the seven diocesan deaneries.
- Headquarters: 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC 29407
- Executive Director: Rhett Young
- Regional offices: Charleston, Hardeeville, Gloverville, Greenville, Columbia, Conway, Georgetown
- Director of Immigration Services: Vanessa Garcia Quinones, Esq.
- Disaster Services: Michele Corkum / 843-438-3088
- Restorative Justice: Shawn Roberson / 803-726-7769
- Port Ministry: Deacon Paul Rosenblum
Diocesan Headquarters & Office of the Bishop
The diocesan curia is housed at 901 Orange Grove Road in Charleston, where the Office of the Bishop, the Vicar General, the Chief Operating Officer, the offices of Planning and Operations, Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities, Finance and the diocesan Tribunal are all located. The Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson serves as Vicar General, and Michael F. Acquilano is the Chief Operating Officer. The mailing address and phone line (843-261-0527) serve as the central point of contact for the see.
- Address: 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC 29407
- Phone: 843-261-0527 / Fax: 804-9408
- Vicar General: Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, VG
- Chief Operating Officer: Michael F. Acquilano
- Bishop: Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS
Worship, Sacraments & Devotions
Catholics in the diocese gather across 95 parishes and 21 missions. At the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, Sunday Masses are celebrated at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with a Vigil Mass on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 12:05 p.m. Confessions are heard Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., on Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration extends from 12:30 to 7:00 p.m. Parishes throughout the diocese offer additional devotions, including perpetual adoration chapels, Hispanic charismatic renewal communities (a particular focus of Bishop Fabre-Jeune), Marian processions and the annual celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist.
- Sunday Mass at cathedral: 9:00 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.
- Weekday Mass (Mon–Fri): 12:05 p.m.
- Confession times as listed above
- Wednesday Adoration: 12:30–7:00 p.m.
- Diocese-wide Hispanic Charismatic Renewal under Bishop Fabre-Jeune
Get Involved — Vocations, Marriage Tribunal & Permanent Diaconate
The Diocese of Charleston runs an Office of Vocations promoting priestly and religious life, a diocesan Marriage Tribunal handling marriage annulment cases for the province, and a permanent diaconate formation program. Lay faithful are invited into dozens of ministries including parish councils, finance councils, school advisory boards, youth ministry, campus ministry, hospital and prison ministry, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, Knights of Columbus councils and the Catholic Charities volunteer network. Bishop Fabre-Jeune has personally visited nearly every parish in the diocese and launched listening sessions to assess pastoral needs and administrative transparency.
- Office of Vocations
- Diocesan Marriage Tribunal
- Permanent Diaconate formation program
- Campus Ministry across SC colleges
- Hispanic Charismatic Renewal
- Knight of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul parish chapters
Communications & The Catholic Miscellany
The diocese publishes the Catholic Miscellany, one of the oldest Catholic newspapers in the United States, founded by Bishop John England in 1822 as the U.S. Catholic Miscellany. The newspaper remains the official publication of the diocese and is available both in print and online. The diocese maintains an active presence on Facebook (facebook.com/DioceseChas), YouTube (youtube.com/DioceseChas) and Instagram (@diocesechas), and livestreams major liturgies including the bicentennial Vigil Mass and the bishop's installations.
- Catholic Miscellany (founded 1822 by Bishop England) — official newspaper
- facebook.com/DioceseChas
- youtube.com/@DioceseChas
- instagram.com/diocesechas
- Live-streamed bicentennial Vigil Mass, July 11, 2020
Province of Atlanta
Since 1962 the Diocese of Charleston has been a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta, whose archbishop currently is Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. The Province of Atlanta comprises five jurisdictions covering the tri-state region: the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the suffragan dioceses of Charleston, Charlotte, Raleigh and Savannah.
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Atlanta
- Current Archbishop: Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
- Suffragans: Charleston, Charlotte, Raleigh, Savannah
- Province covers SC, NC and GA
